OXFORD, Pa. (April 15, 2011) — The Lincoln University softball team completed continued its unprecedented walloping of conference pitching Wednesday afternoon at the Oxford Athletic Association.
Riding a program-record three-game winning streak, the Lady Lions combined for five extra base hits in 17-3 and 6-2 defeats to Bowie State University (16-16, 10-4 CIAA) in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) action with the big blast coming from junior right Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS).
The left-handed right fielder got a hold of one, driving it deep into the gap in right center and crossed home standing up for her second-career homer. Both have come in the last three games.
A slap hitter through much of her career, her confidence at the plate turned last weekend when she logged her first homer, a hard-hit bomb into left-center against Virginia Union.
“I used to just try to get on base,” DuBose said. “Now, I'm trying to do more with it and hit the ball harder with more power. I have the confidence now to just go after it.”
In the first game, Mariah Liberty (Waterbury, Vt./Harwood Union HS) smacked two doubles and was 4-for-5 on the day at the plate. Overall, the sophomore catcher is hitting .377, .002 behind Avree Morton (Uniondale, N.Y./Holy Trinity HS) for the team's lead.
“I'm just trying to put the ball in play and get my hits,” she said. “I was seeing the ball really well today.”
Liberty also had a big day defensively, being a part of three put-outs at the plate and picking off a runner caught too far off third.
Morton, though, continues to have the most potent bat as she and Mariah Coates (Reading, Pa./Reading HS) notched three-baggers.
The new-found power will be the silver lining in the losses as Bowie State's sweep all but assured that Lincoln will not make the postseason as the Lady Lions were three wins back of Elizabeth City State entering today and now just have two games to play.
Still, considering the youth on the team, the program loses three seniors, there is the sentiment that they will be back next year. Now having gotten an idea of what it is like to be in the playoff hunt, the aim is to not fall short in 2012.
Up Next
The Lady Lions conclude the season at Saint Paul's College on Saturday afternoon in Emporia, Va.
— LU —
